A 59-year-old woman said she just wanted to hold her new grandson as she was given time to speak during her sentencing in federal court in Nashville on Friday over her participation in a peaceful protest in March 2021 at a Tennessee abortion facility. Heather Idoni was sentenced to eight months in prison over her conviction on violating the FACE Act and conspiracy against rights. Judge Aleta Trauger said Idoni will serve the time concurrently with the two years she is currently serving for a conviction on similar charges out of Washington, D.C. She will likely serve little extra time due to the new sentence because she has about one year left on her D.C. sentence. She was also given three years of supervised release followed by one year of probation. The Biden administration’s Justice Department had hoped for the eight month sentence to be added to the end of her D.C. sentence so that she would be incarcerated for 32 months total. However, Trauger ruled against their petition for the time to be served consecutively. Idoni was convicted in January over a sit-in protest at the Carafem Health Center in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. During the protest, Idoni and a group of others sang, prayed, and urged women not to get abortions. The conspiracy against rights charge was originally a Reconstruction-era statute intended for use against members of the Ku Klux Klan that could be punished by over ten years in prison. The Biden admin has been using it to prosecute pro-lifers across the country. Idoni, wearing a green jumpsuit and leg shackles, was given an opportunity to speak in court, during which she spoke of her Christian faith and the hardships she had already endured in federal custody. She began by reading from Proverbs 24:10-12, which talks about rescuing “those being led away to death” and holding “back those staggering toward slaughter.” Idoni also said that federal marshals had mistreated her since she entered federal custody back in August 2023. She said that some marshals had put chains so tight around her waist that she struggled to breathe when she sat down and that one marshal told her she would tighten it more if she complained again. Since entering federal custody, Idoni has also had three stints put into her heart, complicating her treatments as she has been transported across the country to at least eight different prisons. “I would love to be home with my family,” she said. “I would love to hold my new grandson.” DOJ lawyer Wilfred Beaye argued that the sentence should be tacked onto her current time because she has a “history of disrespecting the law” and said that eight months was low on what they could have asked for due to federal sentencing guidelines. Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! William Conway, Idoni’s lawyer, requested that she be sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release. Trauger said that she took Idoni’s history of charitable work, including mission work to Ukraine and adoption of kids, as well as her difficult childhood and health problems as mitigating factors. She said that aggravating factors were that she had a “blindspot” for her beliefs that led her to “inflict emotional damage on other people.” After sentencing, a group of supporters waited outside the courthouse to wave signs as she was driven away by federal marshals to a federal prison in Kentucky where she is currently incarcerated. A few held up signs saying “happy birthday” because Idoni will be turning 60 on Saturday.

In the wake of two attempts on Donald Trump’s life, government officials are hard at work trying to determine why so many assassins are trying to kill a man government officials want dead. In their fearless pursuit of the truth, the Justice Department this week released a letter from the latest would-be killer in which the gunman offered $150,000 to anyone who would finish Trump off. In an appearance before the news media, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “I am absolutely appalled that this vicious criminal would offer so much money for what would be fifteen minutes’ work, twenty tops. It’s a very dangerous precedent. After all, just imagine what someone could buy with that much money! Even if you had to lay out, say, 6K for the sniper rifle, you’d still have enough left to buy almost anything you wanted. And boy oh boy, don’t the girls go for a man who flashes that big green? It’s disgraceful that anyone would think loyal Americans would take money to eliminate an existential threat to Democracy.” The Attorney General went on to tell the news media, “The DOJ will do everything we can to foil the plans of fanatical Trump hating sociopaths, present company excepted.” WATCH: The Andrew Klavan Show Congress, meanwhile, continues its investigation into the security failures that led to the July attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Democrat Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Senator Gary Peters told reporters, “We are determined to find out how a sniper got on top of a roof only a hundred yards away from Trump with an absolutely perfect line of sight where it should have been almost impossible for him to miss. I mean, really, anyone but a complete incompetent could have made that shot! In any case, we will not rest until we know which faulty radio or local police officer is to blame for the Secret Service’s failure to do their only job. Since Ronald Rowe Jr. arranged security in Butler, he has been promoted to acting head of the Service, so he more than anyone wants to fix the lapses that allowed the shooter to get in a position where, really, how could he miss? It’s absolutely baffling.” The committee released on-site transcripts of Secret Service Agents during the Butler attack, revealing several lapses in security. The transcripts read in part:  Agent Brennan: President Trump has been shot! Agent Rowe: Oh yeah, that reminds me. I think there’s a sniper on the roof. Also, we’ve received some credible threats against the president. Agent Brennan: Well, luckily, the sniper missed. Agent Rowe: How the hell could he miss? He was only a hundred yards away! Even with the government making strenuous efforts to uncover something that sounds remotely like the truth, crazy conspiracy theorists continue to spin outlandish explanations for why a man with no motivational paper trail of any kind and no online presence except encrypted foreign bank accounts would first send a sophisticated drone to scout out a presidential appearance and then place himself in a perfect position to take an expert-level shot, which was only thwarted by the hand of God, even though God’s application to the Secret Service had recently been turned down because he’s a white man. Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here! On one Right-wing platform, for instance, an anonymous silhouette hailed by conservatives as the “most respected schizophrenic in America,” said that history reveals how a cabal of Jews forced Hitler to use precious resources exterminating them so that he would lose World War II, allowing the few surviving Jews to escape to America where they could nuke the Christians in Nagasaki and seize control of our space lasers so that at long last they could use their unbounded power to cluster together in a country the size of a postage stamp where everyone and his uncle can easily vaporize them. These same Jews are the ones who wanted Trump eliminated because he threatened to foil their mass suicide plan by bringing peace to the region. Some conspiracy theories are more plausible, however. For instance, it is true that the attempts to assassinate Trump were illegal, anti-Democratic, directed at American dissidents and completely incompetent, so they did bear all the hallmarks of a CIA operation. * * * This excerpt is taken from the opening satirical monologue of “The Andrew Klavan Show.” Andrew Klavan is the host of “The Andrew Klavan Show” at The Daily Wire. He is the bestselling author of the Cameron Winter Mystery series. The fourth installment, “A WOMAN UNDERGROUND,” is now available for PRE-ORDER. Follow him on X: @andrewklavan The views expressed in this satirical article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Episode Description Today’s solutions news: Karissa shares with us the secret to feeling truly refreshed (and it’s not just getting a good night’s sleep). Then, Arielle reveals a surprisingly simple solution for reducing PTSD flashbacks: Tetris! The Optimist Daily is a project of The World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http:// Transcript   Theme music    Karissa    Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s weekly roundup. I’m Karissa.    Arielle    And I’m Arielle, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in motion.    Karissa    Hey, we’re back again with more solutions from the Optimist Daily. How are you doing, Arielle?    Arielle    I’m doing alright. I’m feeling very cozy as the weather changes, and I’m actually not mad about it. I’ve been knitting… not knitting. I’ve been crocheting a scarf for a friend, for his birthday…  Karissa    Ah.     Arielle  …so hopefully, he’s not listening.    Both  (Laugh)   Arielle    And just like, drinking tea, cuddling with my dog, doing fall things, enjoying the crunch of leaves under my feet. But how about you, Karissa, how are you?    Karissa    Yeah, it’s not exactly fall weather because it’s still pretty hot over here in California in the Central Valley, but I’m enjoying somewhat cozy vibes as well this week because I’m feeling a little bit under the weather—so lots of tea, but the outside does not match the vibes inside (laughs).  Arielle    Are you getting actually sick, or is it just you’re feeling drained or allergies?    Karissa    Maybe just a combination of all the above, but I’m needing a lot of rest these days. That kind of brings me to my solution—if you don’t mind me jumping in?    Arielle    Yeah, of course, go for it.    Karissa    So, this solution was very timely for me, and I think it’s timely for everyone because we all need rest every single day. The title of this solution is The seven types of rest you need to feel truly refreshed. Oh, that rhymes!  Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  Arielle, have you ever woken up from a full night’s sleep feeling more drained than when you went to bed? Or do you find yourself zoning out while in conversation, even after having a good night’s sleep?    Arielle    (Pause). Sorry, what? What was that? No, I’m kidding! (Laughs). That was me pretending to zone out.    Both  (Laugh)  Arielle  But yes, I definitely feel that sometimes—even when I get a solid 8 hours, I still wake up feeling like, “uh, no, I can’t.” (Laughs)  Karissa    Exactly! It might be because you haven’t gotten the type of rest you truly need, and I have the same thing, I go through the same thing too. Listeners, if you’ve ever felt exhausted despite getting enough sleep, you’re not alone— And it’s not just me and Arielle.  Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  But it turns out that rest entails considerably more than just sleeping. Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith, a busy physician and mother of two, discovered herself feeling burned out and fatigued about 10 years ago, despite sleeping well.  As a result, she began investigating why she, like many of her patients, felt this way. It turns out that we all require seven different forms of rest to feel completely rejuvenated. Dr. Dalton-Smith’s research, which she details in her book *Sacred Rest*, highlights seven important areas of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative. So, today, we’re going to take a look at each type and how they might help you refresh your mind, body, and spirit.    Arielle    I’m very curious.    Karissa    The first type of rest she shares is physical rest. As we said earlier, sleep isn’t the only component of physical rest—because there is also active physical rest.    Arielle    Wait, those two sound like opposite things. How can you be active and still be resting?    Karissa    Well, it turns out that active rest includes relaxing activities like yoga, stretching, and massage therapy. These techniques benefit your body by improving blood flow, decreasing stress, and promoting healing. So, if you’re experiencing aches or stress in your body, you could be due for some active rest.    Arielle    Okay, that makes sense.    Karissa    Yeah, and I love all those activities! According to Dr. Dalton-Smith, physical rest involves more than just going to bed at night—it also includes giving your body relaxation during the day. So, try introducing active rest into your routine, like going for a walk or doing some moderate stretching, and you’ll notice a big difference.    Alright, moving on to #2, which is mental rest. If thoughts keep you up at night or if you’re struggling to concentrate on daily tasks, it could indicate that you’re short on mental rest. Mental rest deficit has consistently been one of the top two types of rest people need. A quick trip might provide temporary relief, but long-term treatments—like taking regular pauses throughout the day to clear your mind—are definitely more sustainable. Whether it’s a few minutes of deep breathing or writing in a notebook, allowing your brain time to relax is essential for mental recuperation.    Arielle    That reminds me of a tactic we’ve written about on the Optimist Daily, where you do like 25 minutes of focused work and then take 5 minutes of rest. Giving yourself regular intervals of rest throughout the day is supposed to improve productivity, so yeah, that makes a lot of sense.    Karissa    Exactly! A lot of these we have articles on the Optimist Daily for, so definitely check them out.    Alright, #3 is spiritual rest, which meets our deepest needs for meaning, purpose, and connection. No matter what your beliefs are, everyone benefits from feeling like they belong and that their life has purpose. A lack of spiritual rest may make you feel distant from your purpose. To restore spiritual rest, try engaging in practices that are meaningful to you—whether that’s prayer, meditation, or spending time with a supportive community. Giving back to others or practicing gratitude can also help meet spiritual needs.    Arielle    Yes, we love gratitude!    Karissa    Gratitude really makes the world go ‘round.    Moving on to emotional rest: you may require emotional respite if you constantly put on a brave face or struggle to say no to others. According to Dr. Dalton-Smith, an emotionally rested person answers the question, “How are you?” with a truthful “I’m not OK,” and that’s totally OK to do.   Emotional rest occurs when we can express ourselves authentically, without having to disguise our emotions. This might be as simple as talking to a trusted friend or even seeking treatment to process feelings in a secure environment.    Another type of rest is sensory rest. Between the continual buzz of technology and over-stimulating situations, our senses are frequently overloaded.    Arielle    Yeah, I didn’t really put together that this is an area where we could become exhausted, but it makes sense. Screens, notifications—all that stuff brings a lot of stress to my life, which is why I try to avoid them at the end of the day.    Karissa    Totally. And even Dr. Dalton-Smith says most of us aren’t aware of how our sensory environments impact our feelings and energy levels. So, for sensory rest, take a break from distractions.   Like you kind of mentioned Arielle, if you try spending time in silence, or turning off bright lights or those devices, or simply closing your eyes for a few moments during a hectic day, you can rest your senses. Unplugging from screens and other stimuli can really benefit your nervous system.    And now we’re on to #6: social rest. Social rest is beneficial for everyone, not just introverts. Dr. Dalton-Smith defines social rest as the balance between relationships that energize us and those that deplete us.    Arielle    We just covered this in more depth on how to recover from social exhaustion not too long ago on the Optimist Daily! So you should go check it out.    Karissa    Yeah definitely! That was just from a couple weeks ago so highly recommend. But as a little debrief, to restore social balance, prioritize spending time with people who inspire you without expecting anything in return. This might mean declining social gatherings or setting boundaries with people who drain your energy.    And finally, #7 is creative rest. Whether you realize it or not, you use creativity every day to solve problems, develop ideas, and think outside the box. When you’re at your lowest point, creative relaxation can help rekindle your passion. Appreciating beauty in nature, art, or music promotes creative rest. As Dr. Dalton-Smith points out, when we simply absorb beauty without feeling compelled to create something from it, we replenish our creative energy. So refuel your creativity by going on a walk in nature, visiting an art gallery, or listening to your favorite music without distraction.    Arielle    Alright! These tips are all such a great reminder that regardless of what society tells us about like being constantly productive and etcetera, rest is necessary, and it’s not just something we deserve after working hard—it’s something that we have to do every day.    Karissa    Totally. By addressing these seven sorts of rest, you can overcome burnout culture and feel truly rejuvenated. And if you want to find out what type of rest you need the most right now, Dr. Dalton-Smith’s Rest Quiz can help you identify which aspects of your life require attention. You can look it up, or it’s also linked in our article on the Optimist Daily this week—so go check that out!   The goal here isn’t just to get more sleep but to rest in ways that rejuvenate your entire being. As we take the time to rest in all these different areas, we can enter what Dr. Dalton-Smith refers to as a “rest revolution,” where feeling energized and well is a necessity rather than a luxury. And that’s something I can definitely get behind.    Arielle    Yeah, for sure. And I’m really curious about this quiz. I haven’t taken any quiz yet, but off the top of my head, I think I probably need mental rest and social rest would be at the top of my list. That’s just my gut feeling (laughs). How about you? Do you think there’s any specific type of rest you’re really lacking?    Karissa    Hmm… I feel like I might be in need of spiritual rest lately. I’ve been feeling a little disconnected from gratitude and just being in touch with the universe and such. So maybe that’s something I should work on. And possibly physical rest, too. Even though being sick has meant lots of sleep and doing nothing, I’ve been missing my walks, stretching, and yoga—so that’s something I definitely need as well.    Arielle    Wow, really, really interesting article. Speaking of problem-solving and thinking outside the box, well, your article talked about how we solve problems all the time and try and think beyond the box. And my article actually has to do with a really popular puzzle game—one that I think everyone knows. So, do you mind if I jump into my solution of the week?    Karissa    Yeah, definitely. Let’s hear more about it!    Arielle    Okay, so the title is: Do you suffer from PTSD flashbacks? Playing Tetris may just help. So, I’m diving into something that might be surprising—I mean it definitely surprised me when I first read this headline. We’ve all played Tetris, right? It’s one of those games that’s pretty much universal. But, what if I told you that Tetris might actually be a useful tool for something as serious as PTSD?    Karissa    Wait, hold on. You mean Tetris—as in the game with the falling blocks?     Arielle    Yes, exactly! Strange but true! A recent study from Uppsala University in Sweden found that playing Tetris can significantly reduce flashbacks in people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.    Karissa    Okay, I definitely need more explanation on this one. How is a video game going to help with something like PTSD? I thought Tetris was just for killing time.    Arielle    (Laughs). I know it sounds a little out there, but bear with me. This research actually started all the way back in 2009. Professor Emily Holmes—who’s now at Uppsala University—wanted to see if a game like Tetris could actually interrupt traumatic memories. She’s been working on this for quite a while, and it seems like it actually works!    Karissa    Oh, really? So, what exactly did she find out?    Arielle    Well, back in the day, they had participants watch a disturbing film—basically something that could stir up uncomfortable memories. After that, some participants played Tetris while others just kind of hung out and sat around. They found that those who played the game had fewer flashbacks than those who didn’t.    Karissa    That’s pretty wild! But that was a small experiment, right? Did they follow up on this later?    Arielle    Yeah, that’s a fair point. It was a pretty small experiment at first, but fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Holmes’ team expanded the study to healthcare workers in Sweden—164 of them, to be exact. These were frontline workers exposed to trauma while treating COVID-19 patients. Between 2020 and 2022, they found something pretty remarkable. The people who played Tetris for just 20 minutes after a stressful shift reported far fewer flashbacks compared to those who didn’t.  Karissa    Wow, okay. So how much of a difference are we talking about here?    Arielle    It’s a pretty big difference! At the five-week check-in, those who played Tetris were averaging just one flashback per week, while the group that didn’t play was reporting around five flashbacks a week.     Karissa    Whoa, that’s a pretty big deal!    Arielle    And it gets even better. Six months later, the group that played Tetris still had half as many flashbacks compared to the control group. I found that pretty incredible.    Karissa    Okay, so here’s the big question relating back to the headline: How is playing a game like Tetris helping with PTSD flashbacks?   Arielle    It all comes down to a cognitive process called mental rotation. When you play Tetris, you’re rotating and positioning those little blocks so they fit together, and that takes up some serious brainpower. Specifically, it engages your visuospatial memory. Researchers think that when you’re focused on mentally rotating those blocks, your brain doesn’t have enough resources left to trigger those vivid, emotional flashbacks.    Karissa    Ah, so Tetris is like brain juggling—keeping your mind too busy to focus on the bad stuff.    Arielle    Exactly! Dr. Holmes even suggests that Tetris could “disrupt dysfunctional mental imagery,” which is just a fancy way of saying it can help stop intrusive memories from forming in the first place. In this recent study, it’s been shown to work over a longer period, just 20 minutes of play can help reduce flashbacks for months.    Karissa    I bet a lot of people listening are thinking, could this really be a game-changer for PTSD treatment?     Arielle    It really could be! Or it seems to be. And the best part is how accessible it is. Anyone can play Tetris—it’s free, easy to use, and doesn’t require much time. You could even play it after a stressful experience, and it might help prevent those PTSD symptoms from getting worse. Holmes hopes it could even become a preventative tool, like a “cognitive vaccine,” as she puts it.    Karissa    Oh yeah, a cognitive vaccine is such a good term and I love that idea. Could this be something healthcare workers or even soldiers use to protect their mental health after trauma?    Arielle    Absolutely! Holmes believes it could be a quick, cost-effective way to help people right after a traumatic event. The fact that it’s simple and non-invasive makes it even more promising.    Karissa    Yeah, it’s kinda cool to think that something as simple as a video game could have such a profound impact.    Arielle    Yeah, I know! And the more research comes out, the more we might see Tetris—or even other similar games—become part of PTSD treatment plans.    Karissa    That’s what I was thinking! There are so many variations of Tetris and puzzle games out there. I was a huge fan of Candy Crush so I wonder if Candy Crush could help out (laughs).  Arielle    Haha, yeah, maybe! Great excuse for anyone who might be struggling to just be playing all the time. Be like it’s part of my treatment!  Karissa  Yeah!  Arielle  But it’s just another reminder that sometimes the solutions to big problems can come from the most unexpected places. And I mean, you say all the time, Karissa, sometimes the smallest and most simple solutions have the most impact. And I think that applies here.  Who knew Tetris could be both fun and therapeutic? Whether you’re playing for entertainment or to calm your mind, it seems like there’s more to those twisty falling blocks than we thought.    Karissa  Yeah, exactly!  Arielle    And with more studies on the horizon, we’ll hopefully learn even more about how a simple game like Tetris can help with mental health.    Because yeah, who knows the future of mental health might just be a few blocks away  Karissa  (Laughs)  Arielle  So sorry for the wordplay there. (Laughs) I just couldn’t help myself.  Karissa    Yeah, love the wordplay and love the solution. It’s super intriguing. So hopefully we’ll hear more on this very soon.  Well, that was a very great round-up of solutions that we found interesting on the Optimist Daily this week! But we also have some other great solutions you can find on our website, including…  Arielle    California’s first National Marine Sanctuary in 30 years to protect 116 miles of coastline, Hispanic Heritage Month: ‘Latinx’ must go if we really want to be inclusive, Largest heat pump in existence will soon warm 30,000 homes in Finland, and Do you have a toxic friend? A therapist’s advice on how to set boundaries. What else do we have?  Karissa    So we have California imposes a complete ban on plastic shopping bags at grocery stores. Lots of good news from California, it seems this week. Pine needle tea, an earthy brew full of health benefits, The Hague makes history as the world’s first city to ban fossil fuel ads, and Ditch the rake and discover the benefits of leaving falling leaves in your yard. Less yard work for you.  Arielle    Yeah, it seems like there’s a lot of good news from California where you are, and also, The Hague is in the Netherlands. Yay for local good news stories (laughs).  Karissa  Totally! Lots of good solutions!  Arielle  If you want to start your day off right, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and get solutions delivered straight to your inbox.    Karissa    We also have more on our social channels! You can find us @OptimistDaily on all platforms, including Threads and Pinterest. The only difference is on X, where we’re known as @OdeToOptimism.    Arielle    We’re a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If you want to support our mission of putting more optimism into the world, click on the link in the show notes to find out how.    Karissa    And remember, support doesn’t always have to be financial. Even just recommending our podcast to a friend, leaving a positive review on Apple or Spotify, forwarding a link to a friend, or sharing a solution on your socials would be a huge help.  Arielle    Karissa, I hope you feel better. I hope you get all the seven different types of rest we apparently need.  Karissa  (Laughs)  Arielle  And I hope all our listeners also enjoy a restful weekend and maybe download Tetris?  Karissa    That’s what I was gonna say! Rest and Tetris for your weekend.    Arielle    (Laughs). Well, we’ll see you next week!  Both  Bye!     The post Podcast Transcript September 27, 2024: The 7 Types of Rest We Need and Tetris for PTSD first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'This is an evolution'

The court found both Gallagher and Idoni guilty of obstructing clinic access

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Looking for some pine cone decorating ideas for your homestead? Add some holiday cheer by filling your home with pine cone decorations! These 20 pine cone decorating ideas are very easy to make. You can create lots of these in no time at all. There's an ornament for your Christmas tree, a centerpiece for your mantel and even gifts for your loved ones. Continue reading and get some inspirations. Pine Cone Decorating Ideas To Have A Cheery Holidays It’s raining pine cones in our yard and I just don’t know what to do about them. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to throw them out so I consulted Pinterest and other sources for something creative and voila! Here’s a round-up of pine cone crafts and decor you can start making today. If you want to have your home ready for the holiday and put those pine cones to good use, then I suggest you continue scrolling.   1. DIY Painted Pinecone Garland | An easy DIY garland you can make from pinecones. Just grab some paint to make it look even better. This is a very relaxing project that you can do with your kids and in no time you will have a super cute DIY painted pinecone garland.   2. Pine Cone Fireflies Any kid will love to have and play with these adorable little fireflies. My grandkids and I will surely have a blast collecting what is needed for these amazingly cute pine cone fireflies. Can't wait to see their faces once I show them what's our next holiday decorating project.   3. Spring Flowers It doesn’t have to be spring to make these lovely faux spring flowers out of pine cones. Make these wonderful spring flowers flourish in your homestead this holiday and you will surely have a lovely display that makes an impression.   4. Simple DIY Pine Cone Ornament Meet cute Rudolph! This simple DIY pine cone ornament shows a lot of character. Just add some twigs and a red nose!   5. Chalky Pine Cone Wreaths Chalk paint will work wonders in making this homemade wreath. These chalky pine cone wreaths will surely fill my empty windows this holiday.   6. Pine Cone Ornaments Want to go all natural for holiday decorating this year? Don't miss these super easy yet super merry pine cone ornaments.   7. DIY Christmas Centerpiece A DIY centerpiece you can make from all natural supplies. With the right supplies, you can definitely make this in just 5 minutes! Make your Christmas extra merry with this head turner DIY Christmas centerpiece.   8. Pine Cone Elves How many elves do you want? So cute, I could probably make a dozen or two, to have pine cone elves in each corner of my homestead.   9. Pine Cone Tree | Don’t have time to get a life-size tree? Then I’d recommend making these mini pine cone trees instead. You can have more than one to fit the size of your wants.   10. 40-Minute Grapevine Holiday Wreath | In case you have a little more time for a DIY wreath, then this 40-minute grapevine holiday wreath is the project you should make.   32 Homemade Christmas Decorations – (#9 is So Clever!) https://t.co/M2VBRhHZVg pic.twitter.com/ojtyecIEn5 — Homesteading (@HomesteadingUSA) December 2, 2015   11. Pine Cone Topiary So pretty I’m not sure why anybody would not want to make this! This pine cone topiary will surely become the focal point for your holiday decorating.   12. Twig and Pine Cone Wreath While you're out picking pine cones, pick out some twigs as well for this DIY twig and pine cone wreath. A wreath worth giving and keeping, so you surely have a purpose making 2 of this beautiful DIY wreath.   13. Christmas Bow With Pine Cone Shabby chic lovers rejoice! This is the pine cone decor ornament for you. You're not gonna be wasting precious time creating this Christmas bow with pine cone because it's amazingly beautiful and romantic.   14. Pine Cone Hedgehogs Aren’t they the cutest. No actual tutorial but you can try slicing a pine cone in two and drawing the faces and paws with Sharpie.   15. Faux Zinnia Flowers Don’t be fooled these aren’t real zinnias, they’re made out of pine cones. Have a bowl of these faux zinnia flowers and raise envy brows of you guests.   16. Wintery Terrarium | Just when you can’t think of anything else to decorate your home with, try this wintery terrarium. A terrarium is the perfect way to bring natural colors indoors.   18. Pine Cone Flowers | In case zinnias aren’t your thing, these DIY flowers may be for you. The earthly hues of these lovely pine cone flowers will make your holiday even more special.   18. Simple, Organic and Festive Holiday Tablescape Need some elegance in your home, try this pine cone decor idea. It gives its name real justification: simple, organic, and festive holiday tablescape.   19. DIY Scented Pine Cones Make your home look good and smell good at the same time with these DIY scented pine cones. I'm sure your not gonna ask for more if you get both scent and holiday decorating you've of been dreaming off.   20. Woodsy Lighting It's that wonderful time of the year to add a nice touch to your chandelier or light fixture. Hang a couple of painted pine cones to your chandelier or light fixture to have a woodsy lighting that is sure to impress.   Want more pine cone decorating ideas? Check out this video from Mary Tardito:  Pine cones come in different sizes and shapes. With natural abundance and beauty they surely are ideal for winter decorating. So grab your basket and gather pinecones and have them excite you! What do you think of these pine cone decorations? Will you give it a try? Let me know in the comments below. Up Next: 30 Breathtakingly Rustic Homemade Christmas Decorations Follow us on instagram, twitter, pinterest, and facebook!   Featured Image Via Christianity Cove

Things Are Not Going Well at Ubisoft

Thank God: CNN Web Content to Go Behind Paywall

As the war in Ukraine rages on, the United States inches perilously closer to World War III. Since the beginning of the war in 2022, a combined one million individuals have died on both sides of the conflict. The United States has sent $55.7 billion in taxpayer dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, while Congress has approved upward of $175 billion in both aid and military assistance. “So the U.S. is essentially footing the bill for this war in Ukraine, and if Ukraine has its way, we will probably be paying for it for quite some time,” Liz Wheeler of “The Liz Wheeler Show” explains. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy took time out of his war time schedule to make a campaign pit stop for Vice President Kamala Harris at a munitions factory in the Keystone State. “Zelenskyy’s trip, by the way, was paid for in part by the good old American taxpayer,” Wheeler comments, noting that he’s “here in the United States to coerce you and I to be part of this suicide mission.” The Ukrainian president has also planned to go to the White House to present the Biden administration with what he calls “a victory plan.” “Sources say that a key part of the plan hinges upon the U.S. giving Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles to fire into Russia. The Kremlin has said that if that happens, then Russia would consider itself at war with NATO,” Wheeler explains. Want more from Liz Wheeler?To enjoy more of Liz’s based commentary, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.